Antidotes (Special Edition) – Foals
RATING: 3.5/5
When I first listened to Foals over a year ago I could tell that they had the perfect balance of playing a similar style to the rising trends but having something extra to the rest of the dance indie bands out there. When I saw them a few months later in Brighton, I knew that they would be big. The tight combinations of high, staccato guitar riffs along with catchy melodies and brilliant vocals were even more entertaining to watch live than listen to on record. Unfortunately, when their album came out, the bubble (or balloon if you wish to make lyrical puns) was burst.
To be honest, this is a bit unfair. The album is not a bad album. It’s pretty solid and contains a lot of fantastic songs that they have not necessarily released as singles (in my opinion, that is always a good sign of the quality of the band). Furthermore, the bubble did not really burst when I heard the album since I had kind of been expecting something rather unspectacular for quite awhile on account of the songs I heard that had been leaked online. However, nonetheless it is always sad when such a eagerly anticipated album actually turns out to lack the spark you were expecting.
Once again, this isn’t a bad album by any stretch of the imagination. I want that to be clear. They are actually very adept at creating slow, powerful melodies that rival the catchy singles that had launched them to stardom. ‘Red Socks Pugie’ in particular is one of the stand-out tracks on the album. The fast, repetitive drums mixed with the slightly chilling chord progressions and intelligent vocals are sublime and it is the one song I can listen to over and over again. ‘Olympic Airways’ also shows Foals’ brilliant knack of taking rather simple riffs and combining them to create beautiful melodies and, just as you tend to with many of the greats, you wonder how someone (particularly you) couldn’t have come up with it before. The confidence to use harmonics for the majority of the song really demonstrates their ability and is perhaps an indication of how they have grown. Throughout the album there is a great sense of the songs being restrained. This may sound odd, but so often bands try to throw as much into the three of four minutes as possible. Foals, as so many good bands do, hold back trusting in the simpler riff and letting the combination of sounds build, making the emotional climaxes of the songs as strong as possible.
I would also advise that you actually get the special edition version of the album as well since it contains all the old songs you would have heard as well, such as Hummer, which I believe bands should tend to put into their first album. After all, that is why you started listening to them and so it is nice to hear those first songs that excited you so much as you listen to the album on your mp3 player. I’m nostalgic like that I guess.
However, the reason why I am slightly disappointed with this album is that while there is nothing fundamentally wrong with it, there is equally nothing that stands out as phenomenal. I believe Foals made a big mistake in the amount that they said about their upcoming album. In plenty of interviews we heard how this album was going to be completely different to anything you have heard from them before, that it would not have the old tracks on, would be quite dark and melancholic etc etc. I for one didn’t want their album to be really different to what I had heard so far mainly because what I had heard so far was why I liked them, obviously. However, what was even worse was that the album actually turned out not to be much different to any of their previous stuff. It is perhaps slightly more melancholic than you would expect if you had only heard ‘Hummer’ for example. However, most had actually heard a number of their songs and it was clear that they were able to creating slow, meaningful songs as it is what added so much depth to their more dancey numbers. I know this seems a bit harsh to say I didn’t want the album to be different and then complaining when it isn’t, but the point I am trying to make is that you shouldn’t go about making a big deal about doing something daring and different and then don’t do it.
The album, in fact, gets quite monotonous after the first couple of listens. While their high pitched guitar riffs are part of their signature sound, it tends to become a bit grating after while. Just as you commend them on the use of harmonics or some high riff, you move onto the next song and hear another, and then another, and then another ad infinitum. In other words, if you have the beginnings of a headache make sure you do not use this album to soothe you.
One more problem is the first track, ‘The French Open’. It just isn’t that good, probably the worst track on the album. It’s repetitive with the least intelligent vocals and thus puts you in an oddly ambivalent mood throughout. If you have been waiting for an album for ages and the first song you listen to on it kind of ignores you, then it puts you in a rather odd, critical mood for the rest of the album. The lesson to learn here is don’t put your worst song at the beginning of your album. It doesn’t help.
So, as I have said throughout, I am being quite critical. However, that is because Foals, both in their music and what they said in interviews, seemed to be promising one of the albums of the year. And it wasn’t. Unfair as it may be that just leaves me disappointed and we all know from our parents that that’s the worst emotion to feel.
Oracular Spectacular – MGMT
RATING: 4.5/5
The term ‘oracular’ can be defined as something that is enigmatic or hard to interpret and in this light it becomes a highly insightful comment on the nature of this debut album by this Brooklyn duo.
Let’s get any judgment out of the way immediately. This album is fantastic. In the past few years I have found that with all the albums I have listened to (and I listen to a lot of music!), I rarely like an album the first time I listen to it. This does not mean that I do not go on to really adore some of them. Albums such as ‘Weekend In The City’ by Bloc Party, ‘Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?’ by Of Montreal and ‘Colour It In’ by The Maccabees are just a very small fraction of the albums I have gone on to play incessantly while strutting around with my overly large colourful headphones on. Generally though I need a little time to get used to the songs and realise (if it is a good album) the many intricacies involved in the melodies and/or the catchiness of the tracks.
However, from the very beginning of the album with their hit single ‘Time to Pretend’ to the fantastic vocal finale of ‘Future Reflections’, this album is simply spell-binding.
The songs are original and intelligent, yet instantly accessible, making you feel as if you have listened to the track a hundred times before, but still cannot get enough. The vocals have a great range, taking in influences from the quirky style of Modest Mouse, the older (and more preferable) rawness of The White Stripes, the catchiness and attitude of Prince, and the memorable, melancholic group vocals heard in the likes of The Sleepy Jackson. The melodies are also highly eclectic. There are elements of funk, country, 80s pop and ballads that permeate the songs throughout providing it with a simultaneously new sound yet the comfortable sense of familiarity.
What was particularly refreshing about this album was that, contrary to recent trends, you hadn’t heard every song to death already. However, nearly every single song stands out as a hit in its own right. At first, I was slightly anxious about them placing ‘Time to Pretend’ as the starting track of the album. After all, anyone who has made a mix tape knows that if you start with your strongest song, you are leaving yourself with nowhere to go. Yet it proves to be a masterstroke for two reasons. First, the perfectly managed eclecticism of MGMT means that every song is so diverse, from the Bee Gees-esque (but good!) ‘Electric Feel’ to the quirky, rustic appeal of ‘Pieces of What’, which sounds like a restrained Modest Mouse, perhaps more like Isaac Brock’s sideband, Ugly Casanova. Therefore, there is no danger that the rest of the album will sound like a poor echo of their one hit like horrific bands such as Scouting For Girls, or even the increasingly unoriginal and unimpressive Calvin Harris. And second, ‘Time to Pretend’, in my opinion, isn’t the best song on the album. It is fantastic, but there are others that are at least, if not better, than their hit single. In particular, ‘The Youth’ is a mesmerising, atmospheric song with a chorus that you will find yourself humming away to yourself even weeks after you last listened to it. It is just one of those songs that makes you feel as if you should be feeling some intense emotions, perhaps going through that serious part in the film that is a diving point in a character’s development. ‘Kids’ is equally good with powerful synth melodies that brilliantly supplement the great lyrics and vocals. Once again I am sure that you will be singing along and I would be surprised if this isn’t release as a single at some point.
It has been quite a while that an album has come out that is so consistently good. There is not one song that you you want to skip and the album has a fluidity and unity that makes it a moving overall piece rather than simply a collection of good songs. This is yet another testament to the talent of Dave Fridmann, who was also producer for Flaming Lips. The only fear now is whether their second album can live up to this initial standard, as so many bands seem to falter. However, considering the wealth of influences and the impressive depth of the album, I am hopeful that there is plenty more to expect from this exciting band.
The Music Review Marathon
Okay, so I have been massively stressed over the past month, as I imagine a number of you are as well, swamped with work. With 30,000 words due in for the 28th April, I have had one day off for my birthday, and am growing worryingly fond of Coronation Street! However, throughout this I have been listening to even more music than ever and I thought that I should spread the love. Therefore, from now on, everyday I will be bringing you a comprehensive review of an album that has just been released so you can waste your hours downloading music as well!
Enjoy!
